Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-12-30

| hhuScs, IL bHCl WIZ piN"'' g'"i "N ~
swered kissing her. Don't let these
morbid faucies get hold of you--J.0"
know you are not really strong yet
SO the child was not christene'd. !" "',
Eustace Vane's sarcasm HAVING S"'1"
the yearning in the mothers he'' = "'o
went in for her advanced IDEAS '''i'
warmly than ever and tho %" 10y
tree Gourished greenor S"u greeher'
Truly, it did seem bard "Po" ','V III
pie folk who had so many 'ronoies'
Upon one point every one was
AGREED and that was that when the
DAYS Of babyhooJ were passed, tho
li,,le heir of yanedene began to prove
himself a wonder after all Al five
veors old he knew as much as child
of ten. or oftwice ten for the matter OF
that. h, could repeat poetry in three or
fonr languages by the page; could play
violiu aud piano; had written story,
nrjpted by his parents, who were wiser
tbsn their fathers had been. and
circulated among their friends; in
short. he was an infant prod gy, a fine,
handsome. healthy intelligent child,
forced far beyoud il years and be ond
his strength.
No simple toys were his by day-no
simple prayers be said b. night; in.
deed not one night out OF seven d d he
have the sound healthy sleep ch ldhood
ought to have. No. his toys were
mechanical models of the most compl-
Gated description, and night after
night he was kept up till midnight at
his mothers parties or at circus,
theatre concert and the like. until the
handsome eyes would stay open no
longer. and he was carried off to bed,
worn out by fatigue, yet too thoroughly
excited to sleep.
No one, except his parents, was
surprised when little Willie fell ILL., rs
he did one dull and dreary November
day. after being up ill one in the
morning at child's fancy ball got up
for his pleasure. No one was surprised.
but his parents were filled with 8
horrible agony of fear. when the doc
tors who had been called in TO attend
him announced the case 10 be inilam-
nation Of the brain and almost hope
less
Quickly the news spread through
Vanedene till il reached the rectory
Then. ut once. the rector sailed on
and took his way toward the Hall
Mrs Vane came TO him.
els it trueP' he asked.
oh! too true--too true" she sobbed
LET me baptize him." said the gooC
man. taking her hand and looking a
her with kindly pity.
at W II do no good, she or ed. Oh
my boy"
ooh! Mrs. Vane,' he said earnestly
why will you disregard the truth' i
is God who has sent this trouble upoI
you. II the child is taken can you fine
it in your heart to lay him over Their,
and leave him forever
For ever she echoed.
''Can you bear the villagers, amongs
whom you have liven all your life
those who have loved the child as we
almost as yourself, TO say you hav
buried him like dog?'
Like dog" she cried in an an
guished vo ce.
"Can you refuse for m-your littl
innocent child-the glorious inheri
tance which your husband and 20
have refused for yourselves"
'Oh! no. nor
Show me the way" said the rector
drawing her toward the door.
She led M to the room where IN
child lay fighting his last struggle wit
the grim King of Terrora Eustae
Vane stood by the bed, a very haggar
and anxious Eustace Vane. utterl
crushed by tho blow even then fallin
upon him. The rector did not lose
moment, but even as he took the basi
of pure water, which was brought 8
his request there was a sigh-a shive
"a sudden opening OF the blue eyes
surprised SIN 10 and murmer OF Mott
er!"-and then Mrs. Vane sank upo
her knees with an exceeding bitter cry
Too late-too late!' aud Eustac
vane realized that they were childles
Into his mind there came a remen
; ! brance Of a lovely summers day, whc
+ his WIFE "a spoken of the child's chris
. | -.
tening-of his owl q Sal Tfc"suo WORDS
, the scarlet flush upon her Chez IS 81
heard them-of his frequent boas,
I'VE are wiser than our fathers. "
And then there came to him out {
the Book which ho had despised mes
sage straight from the God whom
had den ed; Behold your house !
left unto you desolatc. "-London 81
ciety
And it Served Him Right
l. L..